Knochentumoren des Kindes- und Jugendalters

Malignant bone tumors are the most common solid tumors in children and adolescents. Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma are the commonest malignant bone tumors in this age group. Only 30 years ago the outcome for patients suffering from malignant bone tumors was extremely poor. Currently two-thirds of patients can be cured if they undergo early and appropriate therapy. This requires a precise and early diagnosis made by specialized radiologists and pathologists. Furthermore the good prognosis depends on the precondition that patients are referred to selected medical centres with an interdisciplinary team of specialized oncologists, surgeons and radiotherapists. Still, clinicians and practitioners whose primary focus is not oncology must be aware of the typical but distinct signs and symptoms of malignant bone tumors, the basic diagnostic procedures and treatment schedules and possible late effects of treatment.